You can waste your money on snake oil additives if it makes you feel better. It won't hurt, but it doesn't help either
Fuel additives????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
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From: Livonia MI
I'll put some Chevron Techron cleaner in one in awhile. That’s the key, as not intended for continuous use. Know several boaters who swear by Starbrite Star-Tron enzyme treatment, as specifically for ethanol blended fuels. Only an ounce or two is needed, and usually add some before winter storage. You can check out their web site.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,632
Likes: 4,683
From: Mustang OK
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I'm one of those people who are running (basically straight) 100LL avgas in my 56 with Rochester FI.
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Send me the money you would spend on fuel additives and I'll send you a weekly email stating, "Everything is all right" just for your piece of mind.
That's about how much benefit you get from additives...
That's about how much benefit you get from additives...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,304
Likes: 2,263
From: NorCal
Well, I do use one "additive", although it's not really marketed as such. I go to the hardware store and buy a one gallon can of Toluene. It's a paint thinner/solvent that also happens to be one of the top end lighter fractions in the refining process of gasoline, and is a component of many octane boosters and fuel system cleaners. The refineries themselves add more of it to the higher octane gasoline blends.
It costs about $16.00 per gallon, and is VERY corrosive to paint and hard on your skin. I put one gallon in every other fill up - whole tank the first time, half tank the second. Use rubber gloves and a funnel, pour s-l-o-w-l-y, and keep it off of your paint and skin.
This stuff works well for me, lets me run 12* static advance with no detonation, keeps the system clean, and makes up for the cr@p 91 octane 15% ethanol gas we get here in CA.
I'm sure the same old crowd of naysayers from other states and countries ( Indiana and Canada.....
) who have trashed my suggestion before will probably weigh in here again, so I'll have my flame suit on! 
Who knows, maybe they still can get decent gasoline there and don't need it, but that doesn't mean it's not working well for me!
It costs about $16.00 per gallon, and is VERY corrosive to paint and hard on your skin. I put one gallon in every other fill up - whole tank the first time, half tank the second. Use rubber gloves and a funnel, pour s-l-o-w-l-y, and keep it off of your paint and skin.
This stuff works well for me, lets me run 12* static advance with no detonation, keeps the system clean, and makes up for the cr@p 91 octane 15% ethanol gas we get here in CA.
I'm sure the same old crowd of naysayers from other states and countries ( Indiana and Canada.....
) who have trashed my suggestion before will probably weigh in here again, so I'll have my flame suit on! Who knows, maybe they still can get decent gasoline there and don't need it, but that doesn't mean it's not working well for me!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 3,678
From: Central Arkansas
The problem for me here in Arkansas is there is really no good way to know if the gas I'm buying has ethanol in it or not. Pumps are all labeled to say "May contain up to 10% ethanol". That doesn't mean it does and I have my doubts that most of the gas sold around here does contain ethanol - but I have no way to know for sure. There's a station down the street that advertises no ethanol but they only have regular and mid-range "plus" grades. I suspect they get their deliveries out of the same tanker as the other nearby stations???
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The problem for me here in Arkansas is there is really no good way to know if the gas I'm buying has ethanol in it or not. Pumps are all labeled to say "May contain up to 10% ethanol". That doesn't mean it does and I have my doubts that most of the gas sold around here does contain ethanol - but I have no way to know for sure. There's a station down the street that advertises no ethanol but they only have regular and mid-range "plus" grades. I suspect they get their deliveries out of the same tanker as the other nearby stations???
Many areas of Canada and the US have had E10 gas for decades and aside from mileage concerns on economy cars, nobody noticed any difference- or were simply unaware of what they were using. Now that there's stickers on pumps and E10 is in the news, there's a problem?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,304
Likes: 2,263
From: NorCal
Well, I (obviously) haven't measured it myself, but the legislation's been passed and the stickers are on some pumps........ I'd like to believe you are correct.
In any case my car runs better with the Touluene added, and I can't run 12* static advance without it on our 91 octane so called "premium", regardless of whether it's 10% or 15% ethanol.
In any case my car runs better with the Touluene added, and I can't run 12* static advance without it on our 91 octane so called "premium", regardless of whether it's 10% or 15% ethanol.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
Mike,
Scroll down on this link and it will show a picture of what they finally agreed to for a label. I'm sure that decision only cost 1 or 2 million dollars to reach. After all, you have to appoint a study group who intern appoints a committee and then everyone has to agree and then it's submitted for approval.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 3,678
From: Central Arkansas
If you don't know at point of sale and can't tell while driving whether you're getting pure gas or E10, this sort of infers that it doesn't make any difference anyway(s).
Many areas of Canada and the US have had E10 gas for decades and aside from mileage concerns on economy cars, nobody noticed any difference- or were simply unaware of what they were using. Now that there's stickers on pumps and E10 is in the news, there's a problem?
Many areas of Canada and the US have had E10 gas for decades and aside from mileage concerns on economy cars, nobody noticed any difference- or were simply unaware of what they were using. Now that there's stickers on pumps and E10 is in the news, there's a problem?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Mike,
Scroll down on this link and it will show a picture of what they finally agreed to for a label. I'm sure that decision only cost 1 or 2 million dollars to reach. After all, you have to appoint a study group who intern appoints a committee and then everyone has to agree and then it's submitted for approval. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/
Jim
Scroll down on this link and it will show a picture of what they finally agreed to for a label. I'm sure that decision only cost 1 or 2 million dollars to reach. After all, you have to appoint a study group who intern appoints a committee and then everyone has to agree and then it's submitted for approval.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/Jim
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,304
Likes: 2,263
From: NorCal
Mike,
Scroll down on this link and it will show a picture of what they finally agreed to for a label. I'm sure that decision only cost 1 or 2 million dollars to reach. After all, you have to appoint a study group who intern appoints a committee and then everyone has to agree and then it's submitted for approval. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/
Jim
Scroll down on this link and it will show a picture of what they finally agreed to for a label. I'm sure that decision only cost 1 or 2 million dollars to reach. After all, you have to appoint a study group who intern appoints a committee and then everyone has to agree and then it's submitted for approval.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/Jim
I can't tell from the exerpt in your post who Mike Ward's comment was directed towards since he's been on my "ignore" list for a few months now, but I assume it was probably me since he seems to love to take a shot whenever he gets the chance. I make a practice of not responding or "engaging" in anything he attempts to stir up.
So - thanks for responding on my behalf and saving me the trouble, even if it did come at the expense of having to read what I assume was one of his comments!
Glenn
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
I will agreed that I have not actually experienced a problem from E10 gas in my old cars- if there is any in our gas here - which I suspect there isn't. I do use a stabilizer in them which may help, or may not. But, from what I repeatedly hear - ethonal is bad news without question for small engines - mowers, gas trimmers, blowers etc. From manufacturers and small engine repair shops, this isn't even up for debate - it's fact. And I do see some evidence of that with my gas yard equipment - which causes some uncertainty on my part of what I'm actually buying. Be nice if the retailer actually had to disclose exactly what they are selling.
This is just one example of portable test kits you can buy to check fuel for alcohol and water content.
http://www.fuel-testers.com/product_gas_alcohol.html